Saturday, June 13, 2009

Writing Homework

I'm taking a vacation so I can do my writing homework. (I wish.)

I have a pile of writing and reading to do:

  • Completion of 7 more critiques for Palm Group to finish by Monday night.
  • A 375 page Educational Planner to use and review for the TOS Crew.
  • Entries for couple of contests that I desire to enter, but have not found time to think about.
  • Catching up on FaithWriters and Writer's Circle challenges.
  • Working on at least one of my new book ideas.
  • Keeping up the blogs.

All joking aside, I find it challenging to work from home where there are so many distractions and chores calling my name. Add a couple of wiley boys to the mix and I really have a struggle keeping on task. It's no wonder I am up late after everyone else has been in bed for hours. That is when I have a quiet office in which to work. (My office is mobile. It can be the couch, the bed, the porch, the doctor's office, the car or wherever I have some peace and quiet. We don't have the luxury of a separate room right now so I make do with what we have.)

My boys need a great deal of attention and so I've come to the conclusion that in order to complete all the goals of my writing agenda, I will have to plan some time away and to myself. I think I will "hire" my husband to watch the boys once or twice a week while I spend a few hours at the library with my laptop. Better yet, I will send them all away to the gym or skatepark for a few hours, or perhaps the mall. At any rate, I've decided that I will need to give myself periods of time when I pretend I am not such a people person.

I read a quote that showed me how I will need to think at times in order to accomplish my goals and finish my writing "homework".

Here is the funny philosophy one famous writer reported to have for himself:

Tell everybody that you live in one hotel and then live in another. When they locate you in the other, move to the country.When they locate you in the country move somewhere else. Work everyday 'till you're so pooped that about all the exercise you can face is reading the papers.

--Earnest Hemmingway

7 comments:

JoJo Tabares said...

You need to develop insomnia, the writer Mom's most productive lifestyle! I only sleep about 4hrs a night. Up from 2! Whoohooo! While you do feel somewhat sleepy at 4hrs, you do still recognize your family! This means you can be productive at 4am when nobody in their "write minds" would be conscious!

BeckyJoie said...

Hee, Hee. You just described my life, JoJo. Sometimes the sleeplessness catches up though.

Damaria Senne said...

@BeckyJoie - I love the idea of giving people the wrong hotel name.
@JoJo - I'm one of those (un)fortunate adults who sleep like newborn babies. Started cultivating the habit of waking up at 4am last December, but it is hard work.

Rebecca A Emrich said...

Just keep at it... it will get done.

Real vacation soon to come (ha!)

Terri Tiffany said...

I think that is a great idea--hide out in the library a night or two as your job:))

iWrite2Know said...

Writers are lonely living beings. Not many understand the writers’ situation and his desire to write. Writing is a self satisfying profession. A true writer writes for his readers. The worldly things don’t bother them much. All the best with your book!

BeckyJoie said...

Thank you, everyone, for your comments.